Texas Tech junior wide receiver Devin Lauderdale has been suspended indefinitely by the school on Thursday night, according to ESPN’s Jake Trotter.
Per Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, the suspension is “due to a failure to uphold Texas Tech Athletic Department Student-Athlete Expectations.” This means he will miss the team’s Texas Bowl matchup against LSU on Dec. 29.
Lauderdale trails only Jakeem Grant (80 catches, 1,143 yards) on the team with 43 catches for 639 yards. He has scored four touchdowns and averaged a team-high 14.9 yards per reception this season.
A speedster similar to Grant, Lauderdale uses his quickness and agility to create separation in the secondary, making it difficult for opposing defenders to keep track of him.
He has helped the Red Raiders put together one of the most potent passing attacks in the nation with 389.7 yards per game, ranking second in the FBS.
It’s a big blow for Texas Tech, who also announced Thursday night that three players, including linebacker Mike Mitchell, will be transferring, per the Dallas Morning News’ Chuck Carlton.
Texas Tech will look for junior Ian Sadler and senior Reginald Davis to step up in Lauderdale’s absence. Davis has 499 receiving yards this season, while Sadler is third on the team with 551. Both receivers have at least 35 receptions as well.
Taking on an LSU team that has one of the biggest offensive threats in the nation, running back Leonard Fournette, Texas Tech’s offense will have to be on its game in order to outscore the Tigers.
Without Lauderdale, it might not be as easy to move the ball through the air in the Texas Bowl as the Red Raiders try to put these off-the-field issues behind them.
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